Philippe Coutinho limps into hospital with leg brace

Click through the gallery for the first snaps of Philippe Coutinho after picking up an injury

Click through the gallery for the first snaps of Philippe Coutinho after picking up an injury

But Express Sport understands Coutinho has set his sights on returning for Liverpool’s final game of the year at home to Manchester City.

The 24-year-old is confident he can come back quicker than the six-week recovery period given to players who suffer ankle ligament damage like he has done.

Coutinho is definitely out of Liverpool’s festive fixture list - he will miss their EFL Cup quarter-final clash with Leeds tomorrow night (7.45pm) and Premier League games against Bournemouth, West Ham, Middlesbrough, Everton and Stoke.

“Adam is in a very good, close to team training but that means not ready for the game. Daniel is not in team training at all which means the same.

“Roberto we have to wait. I know yesterday it was still painful and it’s something we have to wait for, how he feels today. It’s another day for us, probably I think he will be okay but I’m not sure in this moment.

“After an intense game like it was against Sunderland there’s a few knocks here and there, so we have to wait until this afternoon, the training, the impression and then we make the line-up.”